Ivan Garcia, a 17-year-old from Downey, California, was tragically killed on June 30, 2018. The incident occurred at Rick's Motel on Firestone Boulevard, where Ivan and his older brother, Jaime Garcia Jr., 29, had driven that morning. According to reports, the brothers got into an argument with Raymond Joseph Penland, a guest at the motel. The confrontation escalated, leading to both Ivan and Jaime being fatally shot in the motel's parking lot around 11:25 a.m.
They were pronounced dead at the scene shortly after.
Raymond Joseph Penland, 29, fled the scene but was apprehended later that evening. Acting on a tip, a Los Angeles County Sheriff's SWAT team located Penland at a warehouse in Santa Fe Springs, where he surrendered without incident. Investigators were unsure why the Garcias had gone to the motel or the nature of their argument with Penland, though it was suggested that they might have known each other due to their shared ties to Downey.
Penland had been living at the motel with his girlfriend, Catarina Frances Barajas, 25, and his sister, Vanessa Teresa Cardenas, 32. Both women were present during the shootings and were initially listed as persons of interest. They turned themselves in for questioning but were released without charges. A handgun believed to belong to Penland was found in the motel parking lot, and it was confirmed that neither of the Garcia brothers was armed.
On July 3, 2018, Penland was charged with two counts of murder, with an additional charge for the unlawful use of a firearm. He pleaded not guilty and was held on a $2 million bail. His trial was scheduled to begin on July 17, 2018. The investigation into the motive behind the confrontation continued, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
